A New Piezoelectric Actuator Induces Bone FormationIn Vivo: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

This in vivo study presents the preliminary results of the use of a novel piezoelectric actuator for orthopedic application. The innovative use of the converse piezoelectric effect to mechanically stimulate bone was achieved with polyvinylidene fluoride actuators implanted in osteotomy cuts in sheep femur and tibia. The biological response around the osteotomies was assessed through histology and histomorphometry in nondecalcified sections and histochemistry and immunohistochemistry in decalcified sections, namely, through Masson's trichrome, and labeling of osteopontin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. After one-month implantation, total bone area and new bone area were significantly higher around actuators when compared to static controls. Bone deposition rate was also significantly higher in the mechanically stimulated areas. In these areas, osteopontin increased expression was observed. The present in vivo study suggests that piezoelectric materials and the converse piezoelectric effect may be used to effectively stimulate bone growth.

Strategies to engineer tendon/ligament-to-bone interface: Biomaterials, cells and growth factors

“…In addition, recently developed thermoresponsive biomaterials using shape memory polymers can alternate morphology in response to physiologic temperatures once implanted [78]. Finally, electrically-conducting biomaterials are also well suited for bone tissue engineering, since it has been shown that electrical fields can promote bone healing and regeneration [81,82]. For more information about next generation biomaterials please refer to the reviews [83][84][85][86].…”

Strategies for the development of three dimensional scaffolds from piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride)

“…Different techniques have been used to process PVDF and its polymer/composites based in different strategies (Table 1) to obtain various morphologies including micropillars [21], particles [20,22], films [23][24][25] and fibers [15,[26][27][28][29][30][31] in order to better suit specific tissue engineering strategies. Further, it has been shown that substrates based on PVDF have different influence on cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation [7] depending on their morphology.…”

Piezoelectric osteotomy for the placement of titanium implants in rabbits: histomorphometry study

“…Reis et al. () used the piezosurgery in orthopedic application. The study showed that the bone deposition rate was significantly higher in the mechanically stimulated areas.…”